assistive devices

Abstract

To provide an auxiliary tool for easily removing a cutting tool from a dental handpiece. [Solution] The assisting tool according to the present disclosure is an assisting tool (100) that clamps the head (6) of a dental handpiece (1) and assists in removing a cutting tool (3). The head (6) of the dental handpiece (1) includes a portion (P1) that contacts the surface (Sf1) on the insertion side where the cutting tool (3) is inserted; a portion (P2) that clamps the head (6) with the portion (P1) and has contact portions (V1, V2) that contact the surface (Sf2) of a push cap (93) on the opposite side from the insertion side; and a third portion (P3) that folds or bends back from the portion (P1) to the portion (P2). The first, second, and third portions are formed by folding or bending a single metal plate. Applying an external force to the end (Ed2B) of the portion (P2) causes the third portion (P3) to serve as a fulcrum, and the contact portions (V1, V2) of the portion (P2) that contact the push cap (93) press down on the push cap (93), removing the cutting tool (3) from the head (6).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an aid for assisting in the removal of a cutting tool from a dental handpiece. [Background technology]

[0002] The cutting tool for cutting teeth is configured to be removable from the body of the dental handpiece. Specifically, the cutting tool is attached to the body of the dental handpiece by being held by a holding mechanism included in the dental handpiece. The cutting tool is removed from the dental handpiece after each use.

[0003] When a cutting tool is used to cut a part that is harder than the tooth, such as a dental cap, and a strong force is applied to the cutting tool, the cutting tool is held tightly by the holding mechanism of the dental handpiece, making it difficult to remove the cutting tool. JP 2018-42645 A (Patent Document 1) discloses an auxiliary tool for replacing the cutting tool to remove it from the main body of the dental handpiece. In JP 2018-42645 A (Patent Document 1), by pushing the dental handpiece toward the auxiliary tool, force is applied to the cap of the dental handpiece, and the cutting tool is removed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-42645 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the case of JP 2018-42645 A (Patent Document 1), the direction in which the dental handpiece is pushed into the auxiliary tool differs from the direction in which force is applied to the cap of the dental handpiece, making it difficult to use intuitively. Therefore, there is a demand for an auxiliary tool that can more easily encourage removal of the cutting tool.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide an auxiliary tool that allows easy removal of a cutting tool from a dental handpiece. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The auxiliary tool disclosed herein is an auxiliary tool that clamps the head of a dental handpiece and assists in removing a cutting tool. The auxiliary tool includes a first portion that contacts a first surface of the head on the insertion side where the cutting tool is inserted, a second portion that clamps the head between the first portion and the second portion and has at least one contact portion that contacts a second surface of the cap on the opposite side from the insertion side, and a third portion that folds or bends from the first portion to the second portion. The first, second, and third portions are formed by folding or bending a single metal plate. When an external force is applied to the end of the second portion in the direction of clamping the head, the third portion acts as a fulcrum, and at least one contact portion that contacts the cap presses down on the cap to remove the cutting tool from the head.

[0008] The auxiliary tool of the present disclosure is an auxiliary tool that clamps the head of a dental handpiece and assists in removing a cutting tool when the head is clamped. The auxiliary tool includes a first portion that contacts a first surface of the head on the insertion side where the cutting tool is inserted, a second portion that clamps the head between the first portion and the second portion and has at least one contact portion that contacts a second surface of the cap on the opposite side from the insertion side, and a third portion that folds or bends back from the first portion to the second portion. The first portion has a slit formed along the longitudinal direction of the first portion, allowing the cutting tool inserted into the head to pass through. When an external force is applied to the end of the second portion in the direction of clamping the head, the third portion acts as a fulcrum, and at least one contact portion that contacts the cap presses down the cap to remove the cutting tool from the head. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present disclosure, an auxiliary tool for removing a cutting tool of a dental handpiece allows for easy removal of the cutting tool of the dental handpiece. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an external appearance for explaining an outline of an assisting tool according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of an example of a dental handpiece applicable to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the internal structure of the head. [Figure 4] 1 is an external view of the assisting tool of the first embodiment when viewed from the positive direction of the Y axis. FIG. [Figure 5] 1 is an external view of the assisting tool of the first embodiment when viewed from the negative direction of the Z axis. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an external perspective view for explaining the outline of an assisting tool according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is an external perspective view for explaining the outline of an assisting tool according to a third embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is an external view of the assisting tool of the third embodiment when viewed from the positive direction of the Y axis. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is an external perspective view for explaining the outline of an assisting tool according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an external view of the assisting tool of the fourth embodiment when viewed from the positive direction of the X axis. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is an external perspective view for explaining the outline of an assisting device according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is an external view of the assisting tool of the fifth embodiment when viewed from the positive direction of the X axis. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an external perspective view for explaining the outline of an assisting tool according to a sixth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0012] [Embodiment 1] In the following, an auxiliary tool for removing a cutting tool of a dental handpiece will be described in the first embodiment.

[0013] (Appearance of the assistive device) FIG. 1 is an external perspective view for explaining an overview of an auxiliary tool 100 according to the first embodiment. The auxiliary tool 100 according to the first embodiment is formed, for example, by folding or bending a single metal plate. The base material of the auxiliary tool 100 may be, for example, stainless steel, and more specifically, may be SUS304-CSP, but is not limited to these. When SUS304-CSP is used, the rigidity and elasticity of the auxiliary tool 100 can be ensured and the auxiliary tool 100 can be sterilized by autoclave.

[0014] The assisting tool 100 includes a portion P1, a portion P2, and a portion P3. In FIG. 1, the portion P3 is hatched to distinguish the portions P1, P2, and P3 from each other. The portion P3 is disposed between the portions P1 and P2. The assisting tool 100 assists in removing the cutting tool by clamping the head of the handpiece between the portions P1 and P2. The portion P1 is an example of a "first portion" in the present disclosure, the portion P2 is an example of a "second portion" in the present disclosure, and the portion P3 is an example of a "third portion" in the present disclosure.

[0015] The portion P1 has a generally flat plate shape extending in the longitudinal direction. In the following description, the longitudinal direction of the portion P1 is referred to as the "X-axis direction," the direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction and normal to the plane of the portion P1 is referred to as the "Z-axis direction," and the direction perpendicular to the X-axis and Z-axis directions is referred to as the "Y-axis direction." In the following, the positive direction of the Z-axis in each drawing may be referred to as the upper side, and the negative direction may be referred to as the lower side.

[0016] The portion P1 is provided with a slit SL1 configured to allow a cutting tool to pass through. The slit SL1 in the first embodiment is formed along the X-axis direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the portion P1, and at the center in the Y-axis direction, which is the short-side direction. As shown in FIG. 1, a through-hole He1 having a diameter larger than the length of the slit SL1 in the width direction (Y-axis direction) is provided near the center of the slit SL1 in the X-axis direction. The slit SL1 is an example of an "opening" in the present disclosure.

[0017] Portion P1 has end portions Ed1A and Ed1B. End portion Ed1A is a fixed end fixed to portion P3, and end portion Ed1B is a free end. Portion P3 has a substantially C-shape when viewed from the negative Y-axis direction. One end of portion P3 is connected to end portion Ed1A of portion P1, and the other end of portion P3 is connected to end portion Ed2A of portion P2.

[0018] Part P2 has an end Ed2A and an end Ed2B. End Ed2A is a fixed end fixed to part P3, and end Ed2B is a free end. In this way, in the assist device 100 of embodiment 1, part P2 is slightly inclined downward in the negative direction in the Z-axis direction, but part P1 and part P2 are configured to face each other in the Z-axis direction. The distance between end Ed1B and end Ed2B is, for example, a length that can be held by an average person with one hand.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 1, portion P2 also has a substantially flat plate shape with the same thickness as portion P1. Like portion P1, portion P2 also extends in the X-axis direction. When viewed from the Y-axis direction, portion P1 has a substantially linear shape along the X-axis direction, while portion P2 has a substantially wavy shape when viewed from the Y-axis direction. In other words, when viewed from the Y-axis direction, portion P2 has a substantially zigzag shape.

[0020] Part P2 has contact parts V1 and V2 that come into contact with the handpiece head. When the handpiece head is placed between parts P1 and P2, the user grasps parts P1 and P2 to sandwich the head, allowing contact parts V1 and V2 to come into contact with the head. External force Pw1 shown in FIG. 1 indicates the force applied to part P2 when the user grasps parts P1 and P2. Each of contact parts V1 and V2 protrudes toward part P1. In other words, contact parts V1 and V2 protrude in the negative direction of the Z axis. The assisting tool 100 of the first embodiment is formed from a single metal plate, and contact parts V1 and V2 are formed by pressing or the like so as to be valley-folded twice in the X-axis direction at part P2. The two valley bottoms formed by the double valley fold become contact parts V1 and V2.

[0021] Portion P3 is a bent metal material and functions as a spring against external forces applied to portions P1 and P2, i.e., external forces applied from portion P1 to portion P2 and external forces applied from portion P2 to portion P1. Therefore, when an external force is applied to assistive device 100, portion P3 elastically deforms. For example, when external force Pw1 is applied to portion P2, portion P3 elastically deforms, and portion P2 moves closer to portion P1. While external force Pw1 is being applied to portion P2, the distance between portions P1 and P2 temporarily decreases. When external force Pw1 is no longer being applied to portion P2, the distance between portions P1 and P2 returns to its original distance. Thus, portion P3 functions as a spring and therefore has a predetermined elastic force. 1, the external force Pw1 is a force that pushes the vicinity of the end Ed2B of the portion P2 toward the negative side of the Z axis, but it may also be a force that pushes the vicinity of the end Ed1B of the portion P1 toward the positive side of the Z axis, or a combination of these. The assisting tool 100 of the first embodiment is formed from a single plate of metal material, and the portion P3 is bent so that the portions P1 and P2 face each other.

[0022] In the first embodiment, with the handpiece head inserted, parts P1 and P2 are grasped by the user's fingers, and either of contact parts V1 and V2 presses a push cap on the head, which will be described later, to assist in removing the cutting tool. That is, in the first embodiment, parts P1 and P2 are movable with part P3 as a fulcrum, and by the principle of leverage, a force greater than that exerted by the fingers can be applied to the head. The configuration of the handpiece will be described below.

[0023] (Dental handpiece configuration) Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the appearance of an example of a dental handpiece 1 applicable to embodiment 1. An example of a dental handpiece applicable to the auxiliary tool 100 of this embodiment will be described below with reference to Figs. 2 and 3, but the shape and structure of the dental handpiece applicable to the auxiliary tool 100 are not limited to the example shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

[0024] The dental handpiece 1 in Figure 2 includes an air supply unit 2, a body 4, a neck 5, and a head 6. The air supply unit 2, body 4, neck 5, and head 6 are arranged in this order from the base end to the tip end in the longitudinal direction of the dental handpiece 1. That is, the head 6 is located closest to the tip end. A cutting tool 3 is attached to the head 6.

[0025] In Figure 2, the air supply unit 2 provided at the base end of the dental handpiece 1 in the longitudinal direction is shown by a broken line. The air supply unit 2 is a part for connecting to a pipe that supplies driving air. The air supply unit 2 is configured to be detachable from the base end of the dental handpiece 1, and when connected to the base end of the dental handpiece 1, driving air is supplied to the head 6. The head 6, provided at the tip end of the dental handpiece 1 in the longitudinal direction, is a part that rotatably houses the cutting tool 3. The cutting tool 3 is configured to be able to cut teeth by rotating at high speed.

[0026] In this embodiment, the drive mechanism of the dental handpiece 1 is an air turbine provided in the head 6 and drive air supplied to the air turbine. In other words, the dental handpiece 1 is an air turbine handpiece that uses an air turbine to rotationally drive the cutting tool 3. The drive mechanism of the dental handpiece 1 is not limited to an air turbine, and may also be a motor. In other words, the dental handpiece 1 may be a motor handpiece that uses a motor to rotationally drive the cutting tool 3.

[0027] The body 4 is configured to be detachable from the air supply unit 2. The body 4 is disposed on the base end side of the dental handpiece 1. The diameter of the body 4 gradually decreases toward the tip end side of the dental handpiece 1. The body 4 has a substantially cylindrical housing. The body 4 is the part that is held by users such as practitioners and maintenance workers.

[0028] When the practitioner holds the dental handpiece 1 with the cutting tool 3 downward, the head 6 upward, and the body 4 horizontal, the neck 5 bends upward in the longitudinal center. The diameter of the neck 5 gradually decreases toward the tip of the dental handpiece 1. The neck 5 has a substantially cylindrical housing.

[0029] The head 6 is connected to the body 4 via the neck 5. The head 6 has a substantially cylindrical housing whose axial direction is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the neck 5 (the vertical direction in FIG. 2).

[0030] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the internal structure of the head 6. Referring to Fig. 3, the head 6 includes an air turbine 60, a holding mechanism 70, a rotation mechanism 80, and a release mechanism 90. The cutting tool 3 is held by the holding mechanism 70, which is held inside the head by the rotation mechanism 80. The air turbine 60 is fixed to the holding mechanism 70, and thus receives driving air supplied from the air supply unit 2 and rotates, thereby rotating the cutting tool 3 held by the holding mechanism 70.

[0031] The holding mechanism 70 holds the cutting tool 3. The holding mechanism 70 has a rotary cylinder 71, a slide ring 72, a ring holder 73, a chuck 74, and an elastic body 75.

[0032] The rotary cylinder 71 is configured so that the cutting tool 3 can be inserted therein. As shown in FIG. 3, the cutting tool 3 is inserted into an insertion hole He2. A surface Sf1 having an axial direction of the cutting tool 3 as a normal is disposed at the peripheral end of the insertion hole He2. The surface Sf1 is an example of a "first surface" in the present disclosure.

[0033] The chuck 74 is configured to detachably hold the cutting tool 3 inserted into the rotatable cylinder 71. The elastic body 75 is configured to bias the chuck 74 so that the chuck 74 engages with the cutting tool 3. In other words, the holding mechanism 70 can attach the cutting tool 3 by biasing the chuck 74 with the elastic body 75 so that the chuck 74 engages with the cutting tool 3 inserted into the rotatable cylinder 71.

[0034] The slide ring 72 is housed on the rear side of the head 6 (opposite the insertion side of the head 6) relative to the elastic body 75, and by pressing down, the elastic body 75 can be compressed toward the front side of the head 6 of the cutting tool 3 (the insertion side where the cutting tool 3 is inserted into the head 6). When the slide ring 72 compresses the elastic body 75 toward the front side of the head 6 of the cutting tool 3, the force with which the elastic body 75 urges the chuck 74 weakens, making it possible to remove the cutting tool 3 from the chuck 74. In other words, the holding mechanism 70 can remove the cutting tool 3 inserted in the rotary cylinder 71 by pressing down the slide ring 72.

[0035] The ring holder 73 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is provided at a portion of the head 6 closer to the rear side than the slide ring 72. The ring holder 73 can regulate the position of the cutting tool 3 when the cutting tool 3 is attached.

[0036] The rotation mechanism 80 includes a bearing 81 provided on the insertion side (front side) of the head 6 where the cutting tool 3 is inserted, and a bearing 82 provided on the opposite side (rear side) of the head 6 from the insertion side. The bearing 81 and the bearing 82 rotatably hold the cutting tool 3 via the holding mechanism 70.

[0037] The release mechanism 90 is a mechanism for changing the state of the holding mechanism 70 to a released state in which the cutting tool 3 can be removed from the holding mechanism 70. The release mechanism 90 has a cap 91, a cap ring 92, and a push cap 93. FIG. 3 shows a surface Sf2 on which the push cap 93 receives a pressing force from a thumb or the like. The surface Sf2 is an example of a "second surface" in the present disclosure.

[0038] A cap 91 is attached to the rear side of the head 6, and a push cap 93 is attached to the cap 91 with a cap ring 92 in a depressible state. By pushing the push cap 93 toward the front side of the head 6, the push cap 93 presses the slide ring 72 of the holding mechanism 70, thereby releasing the holding mechanism 70.

[0039] In a dental handpiece 1 configured as described above, if the cutting tool 3 rotating at high speed cuts a part that is harder than the tooth or if the cutting operation continues for a long time, the cutting tool 3 may be tightly held in the chuck 74. In this case, even if a person presses the push cap 93 with their fingers, they may not be able to generate enough force to release the cutting tool 3 from the chuck 74. Therefore, the assisting tool 100 of the first embodiment is used to clamp the head 6 of the dental handpiece 1, thereby encouraging the removal of the cutting tool 3.

[0040] (Configuration of assistive devices) Fig. 4 is an external view of the auxiliary tool 100 of the first embodiment as viewed from the positive direction of the Y axis. Fig. 4 shows the auxiliary tool 100 in a state where the head 6 of the dental handpiece 1 is placed between the portion P1 and the portion P2.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 4, the insertion-side surface Sf1 of the head 6 of the dental handpiece 1 is in contact with the portion P1, and the cutting tool 3 passes through the through-hole He1 in the slit SL1. The surface Sf2 of the push cap 93 of the dental handpiece 1 is located opposite the contact portion V1. In the state shown in Fig. 4, when the user grips the portions P1 and P2, an external force Pw1 is applied in a direction that pinches the dental handpiece 1, and the portion P2 moves toward the negative side of the Z axis.

[0042] As a result, the contact portion V1 comes into contact with the surface Sf2. At this time, the force with which the contact portion V1 presses the surface Sf2 becomes greater than the external force Pw1 due to the principle of leverage. That is, the contact portion V1, which is located between the portion P3 functioning as a fulcrum and the external force Pw1 functioning as a point of application, functions as a point of application. As a result, the auxiliary tool 100 of the first embodiment can facilitate the easy removal of the cutting tool 3 of the dental handpiece 1.

[0043] As described above, portion P2 has contact portion V2 in addition to contact portion V1. The distance between contact portion V1 and portion P1 is distance L1. The distance between contact portion V2 and portion P1 is distance L2. Distance L1 is longer than distance L2. Various types and shapes of heads 6 for dental handpieces 1 are commercially available. The distance between surface Sf1 and surface Sf2 in the head 6 shown in FIG. 4 is longer than distance L2 but shorter than distance L2. Therefore, the head 6 shown in FIG. 4 is installed in a position where contact portion V1 and surface Sf2 face each other.

[0044] If a head in which the distance between the surface Sf1 and the surface Sf2 is shorter than the distance L2 is applied to the assisting tool 100 of the first embodiment, the head is placed so that the surface Sf2 of the head faces the contact part V2. In this way, the assisting tool 100 allows the head to be placed in an appropriate position depending on the type of head. The distance L2 is, for example, 11 mm or less. The distance L1 is, for example, a length in the range of 11 mm to 13.5 mm. The distance L1 is an example of a "first distance" in the present disclosure. The distance L2 is an example of a "second distance" in the present disclosure.

[0045] Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the plate thickness (length in the Z-axis direction) of portion P1 is thickness L7. In the example of embodiment 1, portions P3 and P2 have the same thickness L7 as portion P1. If thickness L7 shown in FIG. 4 is thin, the rigidity of portions P1, P2, and P3 will decrease, and portions P2 and P3 may be partially plastically deformed by external force Pw1. On the other hand, if thickness L7 shown in FIG. 4 is thick, the rigidity of portions P1, P2, and P3 will increase, and unless a larger external force Pw1 is applied, portion P2 will not be able to be pushed in the negative direction of the Z-axis enough to sandwich the head 6 between portions P1 and P2. For this reason, thickness L7 is designed to be within a predetermined range.

[0046] Thickness L7 varies depending on the metal material, but may be, for example, between 0.5 mm and 2.0 mm. However, thickness L7 may be a thickness outside this range as long as the material allows head 6 to be sandwiched between portions P1 and P2 without part of portions P2 and P3 undergoing plastic deformation when external force Pw1 is applied.

[0047] Furthermore, in order to adjust the elastic force of portion P3, the thickness of portion P3 may be different from the thickness of portions P1 and P2. That is, portion P3 or portions P1 and P2 may be subjected to processing such as polishing to make the thickness of portion P3 different from the thickness of portions P1 and P2. As shown in Fig. 4, when portions P1 and P2 and portion P3 have the same thickness, assist device 100 of embodiment 1 can be constructed simply by folding or bending a single plate, which is desirable because it reduces the manufacturing cost of assist device 100.

[0048] Fig. 5 is an external view of the assisting tool 100 of the first embodiment when viewed from the negative direction of the Z axis. Fig. 5 shows a part of the portion P2 through the slit SL1 of the portion P1. The distance L3 shown in Fig. 5 is the length of the slit SL1 in the width direction (Y-axis direction). The distance L3 is, for example, 2.0 mm, but is not limited to this and may be a length in the range of 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm.

[0049] Distance L4 is the diameter of through-hole He1. Distance L4 is, for example, 5.0 mm, but is not limited to this and may be a length in the range of 1.6 mm to 5.0 mm. Distance L5 is the length of portion P3 in the width direction (Y-axis direction). Distance L5 is, for example, 6.0 mm, but is not limited to this and may be a length in the range of 1.0 mm to 6.0 mm.

[0050] The distance L6 is the length in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the portion P1 and the portion P2. The distance L6 is, for example, 15.0 mm, but is not limited to this and may be a length in the range of 9.0 mm to 15.0 mm.

[0051] As described above, when the assisting device 100 of embodiment 1 is constructed simply by folding or bending a single metal plate, the manufacturing cost of the assisting device 100 can be reduced. Also, as described above, the portion P3 has a predetermined elastic force to function as a spring. When the assisting device 100 is formed from a single plate, the thickness L7 affects not only the elastic force of the portion P3 but also the elastic force of the portions P1 and P2, that is, affects the rigidity of the entire assisting device 100. If the rigidity of the entire assisting device 100 is too low or too high, it will no longer function as a product, so the rigidity of the entire assisting device 100, like the elastic force of the portion P3, must be within a predetermined range.

[0052] When assistive device 100 is manufactured by folding or bending a single metal plate, as thickness L7 increases, the elastic force of portion P3 increases and the rigidity of the entire assistive device 100 also increases. On the other hand, as thickness L7 decreases, the elastic force of portion P3 decreases and the rigidity of the entire assistive device 100 also decreases. For this reason, if thickness L7 is determined based on either the condition of the elastic force of portion P3 or the condition of the rigidity of the entire assistive device 100 as a standard, the other condition that is not determined as a standard may not be satisfied.

[0053] In the first embodiment, a manufacturing method is adopted in which a single metal plate is folded or bent to reduce manufacturing costs, and the elastic force of portion P3 is adjusted independently from the rigidity of the entire assistive device 100. That is, in the first embodiment, the length in the width direction of portion P3 is adjusted, rather than the thickness L7 of portion P3.

[0054] The widthwise distance L5 of the portion P3 is shorter than the widthwise distance L6 of the portions P1 and P2. This allows the portion P3 to be adjusted to have a predetermined elastic force. If the distance L5 of the portion P3 is longer, the elastic force of the portion P3 increases. If the elastic force of the portion P3 is too large, the portion P2 will be less likely to move even when the external force Pw1 is applied, and sufficient force will not be applied to the push cap 93. In the assisting device 100 of embodiment 1, the distance L5 is shorter than the distance L6, so that the elastic force of the portion P3 is adjusted to not be too large. On the other hand, if the elastic force of the portion P3 is too small, the portion P2 will deform significantly when the external force Pw1 is applied, causing plastic deformation and reducing stability. Therefore, as described above, the distance L5 is preferably in the range of 1.0 mm to 6.0 mm.

[0055] As shown in Fig. 5, when the portion P1 is viewed from above in the negative direction of the Z axis, the through hole He1 is formed at a position overlapping the contact portion V1. As a result, when the cutting tool 3 is placed so as to pass through the through hole He1, as described in Fig. 4, the head 6 is placed at a position where the surface Sf2 faces the contact portion V1. In other words, the user can easily place the head 6 in an appropriate position.

[0056] 5 shows the ends of slit SL1 in the X-axis direction, namely, end SE2 on the negative side of the X-axis and end SE1 on the positive side of the X-axis. When portion P1 is viewed from the negative side of the Z-axis, end SE2 of slit SL1 is formed at a position overlapping contact portion V2. As a result, by placing head 6 so that cutting tool 3 passes end SE2, head 6 is placed at a position that easily faces surface Sf2 and contact portion V2.

[0057] As described above, in the auxiliary tool 100 of the first embodiment, the through hole He1 and the end portion SE2 of the slit SL1 are used to align the contact portion V1 and the contact portion V2, respectively, allowing the user to easily install the head 6 of the dental handpiece 1 in an appropriate position. Furthermore, because the distance L1 between the contact portion V1, which is located on the positive side of the X-axis relative to the contact portion V2, and the portion P1 is longer than the distance L2, the head 6 of the dental handpiece 1 can be easily installed whether the head 6 is brought into contact with the contact portion V1 or the contact portion V2. If the distance L2 were longer than the distance L1, the contact portion V1 would act as a barrier when bringing the head 6 into contact with the contact portion V2, making it difficult to install the head 6. Furthermore, in the auxiliary tool 100 of the first embodiment, the external force Pw1 applied to the auxiliary tool 100 and the force applied to the push cap 93 are directed in substantially the same direction (the negative direction of the Z-axis), allowing the user to intuitively understand how to use the auxiliary tool 100.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 5 , the end SE1 of the slit SL1 along the X-axis is closer to the end Ed1B, which is the free end, than the end Ed1A, which is the fixed end. In other words, the slit SL1 extends to the vicinity of the end Ed1B. This configuration makes it difficult to insert the head 6, with the cutting tool 3 attached, between the portions P1 and P2 of the auxiliary tool 100 from the Y-axis direction, i.e., from the side, into the through-hole He1 or end SE2 of the slit SL1 that faces the contact portion V1 or V2 because of the short distance between the portions P1 and P2 in that area. However, by first inserting the cutting tool 3 into the slit SL1 near the end SE1 and then sliding it along the slit SL1 in the negative direction of the X-axis, i.e., toward the end SE2, the head 6 can be easily placed at the desired position, i.e., the through-hole He1 or end SE2, while the attached cutting tool 3 passes through the slit SL1.

[0059] In this way, the assisting tool 100 of the first embodiment can apply a large force to the push cap 93 with a small force by using the principle of leverage, and can easily remove the cutting tool 3 of the dental handpiece 1. In other words, compared to pressing down the push cap 93 with a finger, the user can easily remove the cutting tool of the dental handpiece.

[0060] Furthermore, auxiliary tool 100 of embodiment 1 is formed by processing a single metal plate so that it is folded or bent. This makes it possible to reduce the number of parts used in auxiliary tool 100, thereby reducing the cost of auxiliary tool 100. Furthermore, auxiliary tool 100 of embodiment 1 is provided with slit SL1, which makes it possible to sandwich head 6 with cutting tool 3 attached between portion P1 and portion P2.

[0061] [Embodiment 2] In the first embodiment, a configuration in which the portion P2 has two contact portions V1 and V2 has been described. In the second embodiment, an assisting tool 100A will be described with a configuration in which the portion P2A has only one contact portion V1A. FIG. 6 is an external perspective view for explaining the outline of the assisting tool 100A of the second embodiment. Note that in FIG. 6, the description of the configuration that overlaps with the assisting tool 100 of the first embodiment will not be repeated.

[0062] As shown in Fig. 6, the portion P2A of the second embodiment has only one contact portion V1A. That is, the portion P2A of the second embodiment has a substantially V-shape when viewed from the Y-axis direction. Accordingly, in the portion P1A of the second embodiment, the through hole He1A is formed at the same position as the end portion SE2. Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the width direction length of the portion P3 is the same as the width direction lengths of the portions P1A and P2A.

[0063] In the second embodiment, the portion P2A is folded or bent only once, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. Also, in the assisting tool 100A of the second embodiment, a large force can be applied to the push cap 93 with a small force due to the principle of leverage, and the cutting tool 3 of the dental handpiece 1 can be easily removed.

[0064] [Embodiment 3] In the first embodiment, the portion P1 has a substantially linear shape when viewed from the Y-axis direction. In the third embodiment, an example in which the step portion St1 is provided in the portion P1B will be described.

[0065] Fig. 7 is an external perspective view for explaining the outline of an auxiliary tool 100B according to a third embodiment. A portion P1B has a step portion St1 on the positive side of the X-axis of the through-hole He1. Fig. 8 is an external view of the auxiliary tool 100B according to the third embodiment as viewed from the positive side of the Y-axis. Fig. 8 shows the auxiliary tool 100B in a state in which a dental handpiece 1 having a head 6A is installed.

[0066] The head 6A shown in the third embodiment has a surface Sf3 that protrudes further toward the front side than the surface Sf1. That is, the surface Sf3 is a surface on which the cutting tool 3 is inserted relative to the position of the surface Sf1. The height of the step portion St1 in the Z-axis direction is formed to correspond to the distance between the surface Sf1 and the surface Sf3. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the head 6A can be placed along the surface of the portion P1B, improving the stability of the placed head 6A. The surface Sf3 is an example of a "third surface" in the present disclosure.

[0067] In this way, the auxiliary tool 100B of the third embodiment allows the head 6A to be stably installed because the shape of the portion P1B is formed to match the shape of the head 6A. Also, in the auxiliary tool 100B of the third embodiment, a large force can be applied to the push cap 93 with a small force due to the principle of leverage, and the cutting tool 3 of the dental handpiece 1 can be easily removed.

[0068] [Embodiment 4] In the first embodiment, a configuration was described in which the portion P1 has a substantially flat plate shape with the Z axis as the normal direction. In the fourth embodiment, a configuration will be described in which the portion P1C has a guide portion W1 along the X axis direction. Note that the description of the configuration that overlaps with the assisting tool 100 of the first embodiment will not be repeated.

[0069] Fig. 9 is an external perspective view for explaining an overview of an assisting tool 100C according to a fourth embodiment. Fig. 10 is an external view of the assisting tool 100C according to the fourth embodiment as viewed from the positive direction of the X-axis. In the assisting tool 100C shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the portion P1C has a guide portion W1 formed on the positive side of the Y-axis of the portion P1C and extending along the X-axis direction. The guide portion W1 functions as a wall that supports the installed head 6 from the positive side of the Y-axis.

[0070] As described above, the auxiliary tool 100C of the fourth embodiment allows the head 6 to be installed along the guide portion W1, so the user can more easily install the head 6 in the desired position. Furthermore, with the auxiliary tool 100C of the fourth embodiment, the head 6 continues to be supported by the guide portion W1 even after it has been installed in the desired position, improving stability when applying an external force Pw1. Furthermore, with the auxiliary tool 100C of the fourth embodiment, a large force can be applied to the push cap 93 with a small force based on the principle of leverage, so that the cutting tool 3 of the dental handpiece 1 can be easily removed.

[0071] [Embodiment 5] In the fourth embodiment, the portion P1 has the guide portion W1. In the fifth embodiment, the portion P1D has a substantially V-shape when viewed from the positive direction of the X axis.

[0072] Fig. 11 is an external perspective view for explaining an overview of an assisting tool 100D according to a fifth embodiment. Fig. 12 is an external view of the assisting tool 100D according to the fifth embodiment when viewed from the positive direction of the X-axis. In the assisting tool 100D shown in Figs. 11 and 12, a portion P1D includes a region Pr1, a region Pr2, and a protruding portion Vr1. The regions Pr1 and Pr2 form a substantially V-shape, and the protruding portion Vr1 protrudes toward the negative side of the Z-axis.

[0073] Thus, in the auxiliary tool 100D of the fifth embodiment, after the head 6 is installed, the head 6 is supported from both the positive and negative Y-axis directions by the regions Pr1 and Pr2. This allows the auxiliary tool 100D of the fifth embodiment to improve stability when an external force Pw1 is applied. Furthermore, in the auxiliary tool 100D of the fifth embodiment, a large force can be applied to the push cap 93 with a small force based on the principle of leverage, and the cutting tool 3 of the dental handpiece 1 can be easily removed.

[0074] [Embodiment 6] In the first embodiment, an example has been described in which the portion P1 and the portion P2 both extend in the X-axis direction. In the sixth embodiment, an example will be described in which the extension direction of the portion P1E is different from the extension direction of the portion P2E.

[0075] Fig. 13 is an external perspective view for explaining an overview of assisting device 100E of embodiment 6. Note that description of the configuration that overlaps with assisting device 100 of embodiment 1 will not be repeated. As shown in Fig. 13, portion P1E extends in the Y-axis direction, and portion P2E extends in the X-axis direction.

[0076] Portion P2E of embodiment 6 has one contact portion V1A, similar to portion P2A of embodiment 2. Portion P1E of embodiment 6 does not have slit SL1 and has only through hole He1. Through hole He1 is aligned with contact portion V1A.

[0077] Thus, in the assisting tool 100E of the sixth embodiment, the extension directions of the portion P1E and the portion P2E are different, which makes it easier to install the head 6. More specifically, for example, the user can easily insert the cutting tool 3 into the through hole He1 from a position in the space on the positive side of the X-axis of the through hole He1 where there are no barriers. Furthermore, the user can rotate the inserted body 4 by 90 degrees around the axis of the cutting tool 3 inserted into the through hole He1 to position the body 4 along the portion P1E. This allows the head 6 to come into contact with the portion P1E and be installed in a stable position.

[0078] In the assisting tool 100E of the sixth embodiment, a large force can also be applied to the push cap 93 with a small force due to the principle of leverage, and the cutting tool 3 of the dental handpiece 1 can be easily removed.

[0079] [Variations] In the example of the first embodiment, the assisting tool 100 is described as being made from a single metal plate. However, the assisting tool 100 may not be made from a single metal plate, but may be integrally formed by combining a plurality of members. For example, as described above, the portions P1 and P2 may be made from stainless steel, while the portion P3 may be made from a component containing another metal or resin.

[0080] Furthermore, the overall shape of the auxiliary tool 100 is not limited to the shape shown in Fig. 4. The auxiliary tool 100 may have any shape as long as it can hold the head 6 of the dental handpiece 1. For example, the overall shape of the auxiliary tool 100 as viewed from the Y-axis direction may be a substantially U-shape or a substantially C-shape.

[0081] In the above example, the external force Pw1 is generated by, for example, a user gripping the parts P1 and P2. However, the external force Pw1 may be applied to the part P1 after the part P1 is placed and fixed on the floor.

[0082] In the above examples, it has been described that the first embodiment has two contact portions V1 and V2, and that the second embodiment has one contact portion V1A. However, the number of contact portions that the assist device 100 has is not limited to one or two, and may be three or more. Furthermore, the portion P2 may not have a convex shape, and the entire surface of the portion P2 may function as one contact portion. An example of a case where the entire surface of the portion P2 functions as one contact portion is when the portion P2 has a substantially linear shape when viewed from the Y-axis direction, similar to the portion P1.

[0083] In the example of the first embodiment, the through-hole He1 and the end SE2 are aligned with the contact portions V1 and V2, respectively. However, the method of allowing the user to grasp the appropriate position of the head 6 is not limited to this. For example, a line of an easily visible color may be added to the portion P1. More specifically, a line indicating the position of the tip of the head 6 for each type of head 6 may be added to the portion P1. This allows the user to grasp the appropriate position of the head 6 at low cost.

[0084] In the above example, the through hole He1 is circular, but other shapes are also possible. For example, the through hole He1 may be elliptical, rectangular, or another polygonal shape. The through hole He1 may also have a specific shape that matches the shape of the cutting tool 3 or the head 6. The auxiliary tool 100 may be subjected to folding and bending processes, or may be bent with creases.

[0085] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0086] 1 dental handpiece, 2 air supply unit, 3 cutting tool, 4 body, 5 neck, 6, 6A head, 60 air turbine, 70 holding mechanism, 71 rotating barrel, 72 slide ring, 73 ring holder, 74 chuck, 75 elastic body, 80 rotation mechanism, 81, 82 bearing, 90 release mechanism, 91 cap, 92 cap ring, 93 push cap, 100, 100A to 100E auxiliary tool, Ed1A, Ed1B, Ed2B, Ed2A, SE1, SE2 end, He1, He1A through hole, He2 insertion hole, L1 to L6 distance, L7 thickness, P1, P1A to P1E, P2, P2A, P2E, P3 part, Pr1, Pr2 area, Pw1 external force, SL1 slit, Sf1 to Sf3 surface, St1 step portion, V1A, V1, V2 contact portions, Vr1 protrusion portion, W1 guide portion.

Claims

1. An auxiliary tool that clamps the head of a dental handpiece to assist in removing a cutting tool, When the head is clamped, a first portion of the head that contacts a first surface on an insertion side into which the cutting tool is inserted; a second part having at least one contact portion that sandwiches the head between the first part and the second part and contacts a second surface of the cap opposite the insertion side; a third portion that folds or bends back from the first portion onto the second portion; the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion are formed by folding or bending a single metal plate; the first portion has an opening formed therein through which the cutting tool inserted into the head can pass; the opening is a hole formed in the first portion, An auxiliary tool in which, by applying an external force to the end of the second part in a direction that pinches the head, the third part becomes a fulcrum, and the at least one contact part that comes into contact with the cap presses down the cap to remove the cutting tool from the head.

2. An auxiliary device as described in Claim 1, wherein the opening is formed in the center of the short side of the first part.

3. The assisting tool according to claim 2 , wherein the opening is a slit formed along the longitudinal direction of the first portion.

4. The assistive device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one contact portion has a convex shape that protrudes toward the first portion.

5. the at least one contact portion includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion; The assistive device according to claim 4 , wherein a first distance between the first contact portion and the first part and a second distance between the second contact portion and the first part are different lengths.

6. the first portion has a flat plate shape, and the opening is a slit formed along a longitudinal direction of the first portion; The assisting tool according to claim 5 , wherein one end of the slit is formed at a position overlapping the second contact portion when the first portion is viewed in plan.

7. one end of the first portion is a fixed end fixed to the third portion, the other end of the first portion is a free end, The assisting tool according to claim 6 , wherein the other end of the slit is provided at a position closer to the free end than to the fixed end.

8. the slit includes a through hole having a diameter larger than a width of the slit, The assisting tool according to claim 7 , wherein the through hole is formed at a position overlapping the first contact portion when the first portion is viewed in plan view.

9. the first distance is greater than the second distance; The assisting tool according to claim 8 , wherein the through-hole is formed at a position closer to the free end than one end of the slit.

10. An assisting device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the widthwise length of the third portion is shorter than at least one of the widthwise length of the first portion and the widthwise length of the second portion.

11. The assisting device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the thickness of the third portion is between 0.5 mm and 2.0 mm.

12. The dental handpiece according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first portion has a guide portion that guides the dental handpiece along a longitudinal direction.

13. The assisting device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first portion is folded or bent so as to protrude in a direction opposite to the direction in which the second portion is arranged.

14. the first portion has a step portion, the dental handpiece has a third surface disposed on a side where the cutting tool is inserted relative to the first surface, The assisting tool according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the height of the step portion corresponds to the distance between the first surface and the third surface.

15. The assisting tool according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the longitudinal direction of the first portion and the longitudinal direction of the second portion are different directions.

16. The assisting tool according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the metal material of the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion is stainless steel.

17. The assisting tool according to claim 16, wherein the stainless steel is SUS304-CSP.

18. An auxiliary tool that clamps the head of a dental handpiece to assist in removing a cutting tool, When the head is clamped, a first portion of the head that contacts a first surface on an insertion side into which the cutting tool is inserted; a second part having at least one contact portion that sandwiches the head between the first part and the second part and contacts a second surface of the cap opposite the insertion side; a third portion that folds or bends back from the first portion onto the second portion; the first portion has a slit formed along a longitudinal direction of the first portion, through which the cutting tool inserted into the head can pass; the slit is a hole formed in the first portion, An auxiliary tool in which, by applying an external force to the end of the second part in a direction that pinches the head, the third part becomes a fulcrum, and the at least one contact part that comes into contact with the cap presses down the cap to remove the cutting tool from the head.

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